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METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING 
[IRMISHERS  AND  SMALL  GROUPS 
OF  SKIRMISHERS 

[FROM  A  FRENCH  OFFICIAL  DOCUMENT  OF  OCTOBER,  1916.] 


r\     \ 


-  • 


TRANSLATED  AND  EDITED  AT  THE 


ARMY  WAR  COLLEGE 

\jp 

July,  1917  «  &4$& 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
1917 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Document  No.  633. 

Office  of  The  Adjutant  General. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

WASHINGTON,  July  16,  1917. 

The  following  pamphlet  on  method  of  instructing  skirmishers  and 
small  groups  of  skirmishers  is  published  for  the  information  of  all 
concerned.  * 

[353.549  A.  G.  O.] 

By    OROER    OF   THE    SECRETARY    OP   "WAR! 

TASKER  H.  BLISS, 

Major  General,  Actiny  Chief  of  Staff . 
OFFICIAL: 

H.  P.  McCAIN, 

The  Adjutant  General. 

3 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  deemed  advisable  to  publish  these  notes  on  Methods  of 
Instructing  Skirmishers  and  Small  Groups  of  Skirmishers:  for  in  it 
subaltern  and  noncommissioned  officers  will  be  able  to  find  useful 
information  and  practice  schemes. 

The  procedures  indicated  in  this  pamphlet  are  in  no  sense  manda- 
tory; they  are  offered  simply  as  examples.  The  initiative  of  officers 
of  every  rank  in  organizing  their  troops  and  in  directing  their 
instruction  is  weakened  in  no  way. 

5 


TABLE  OF  CONTEXTS. 

Page. 
I.  Necessity  for  a  detailed  individual  instruction  of  the 

skirmisher 9 

II.  Preparation  of  the  exercises 10-11 

III.  First   series  of    exercises. — Individual    instruction    in 

shooting  under  conditions  of  active  service 11-14 

Exercise  No.  1. — Fire  under  active  service  condi- 
tions   11-13 

Exercise  No.  2. — Discovering  targets 13-14 

IV.  Second  series  of  exercises. — Exercises  in   defense,  for 

groups  of  skirmishers 14-17 

Exercise  No.  3. — Defense  of  a  line  quickly  organized 

during  the  combat 14-16 

Exercise  No.  4. — Defense  of  a  trench  that  has  been     . 

organized  for  some  time 16-17 

V.  Third  series  of  exercises. — Exercises  in  approach,  for 

groups  of  skirmishers 18-23 

Exercise  No.  5. — Practice  in  the  utilization  of  the 

ground  in  order  to  advance 18-19 

Exercise  No.  6. — Exercise  in  making  an  advance 
under   artillery   fire.      For   skirmishers   or   small 

groups  of  skirmishers 19-21 

Exercise   No.    7. — Exercise   in   making   an   attack. 

For  a  group  of  skirmishers 21-22 

Exercise   No.    8. — Exercise  in   making  an   attack. 

For  several  groups  of  skirmishers 22-23 

VI.  Fourth  series  of    exercises. — Exercises    in    making  an 

assault,  in  close  fighting 23-35 

Preparatory  exercises 23 

Exercises  in  bayonet  fighting 23-24 

Exercises  containing  element  of  sport 24-25 

Exercises  in    firing    in    preparation    for    close 

combat 25 

Exercises  in  grenade  throwing 25 

Exercise  No.  9. — Assault  prepared  by  the  artillery 

(exercise  for  a  half  platoon) 25-27 

7 


8  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

VI.  Fourth  series  of  exercises — Continued.  Page. 

KxiTfise    No.    10. — Assault   prepared   by   grenu 

:  rise  for  a  small  group  of  skirmishers) 28 

Exercise  No.  11. — Combat  on  the  enemy  position 

(exercise  for  a  group  of  skirmishers) 29-32 

Diagrams 31  :W 

Exercise  No.  12. — Grenade  fighting  in  a  fire  or  con- 
necting trench 32-33 

Exercise    No.    13. — Organization    of    the    captured 

ground  (exercise  for  a  group  of  skirmishers) 

VII.  Fifth  series  of  exercises. — Combat  patrols 35-37 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS  AND  SMALL 
GROUPS  OF  SKIRMISHERS. 


I.  NECESSITY  FOR  DETAILED  INDIVIDUAL  INSTRUCTION  OF  THE 
SKIRMISHER. 

Close  fighting  is  carried  on  almost  exclusively  by  groups  of 
skirmishers  -who  are  often  beyond  the  reach  of  any  coordinated 
management  and  act  in  whatever  way  they  can  on  their  own  account. 
A  combat  at  close  quarters  is  the  total  of  scattered  struggles.  It  is 
necessary,  therefore,  to  instruct  every  man  in  great  detail,  in  order  that  he 
may  be  a  real  combatant. 

The  knowledge  of  the  skirmisher  is  generally  limited  to  elementary 
ideas  regarding  shooting,  grenade  throwing,  and  utilization  of  the 
ground.  This  rudimentary  knowledge  makes  a  skirmisher  nothing 
more  than  a  private  of  the  ranks,  often  incapable  of  fighting  to  any 
purpose  when  he  has  no  officers.  In  battle  the  slowness  of  the 
movements,  immobility,  disorder,  and  unexplainable  retirements 
are  partly  the  result  of  lack  of  individual  instruction  of  the  skirmisher 
and  the  noncommissioned  officers. 

The  changing,  as  in  officers,  noncommissioned  officers,  and  men, 
the  service  in  the  trenches,  and  battle  periods  complicate  and  inter- 
fere with  the  instruction.  The  object  of  the  following  pages  is  to 
make  easier  the  task  of  the  officers  and  noncommissioned  officers  by 
suggesting  a  series  of  graded  exercises,  methods  of  organizing  these  exer- 
cises, and  the  points  to  bring  out.  These  exercises,  which  are  simple 
and  very  short,  will  be  practiced  especially  during  the  period  of 
relief,  when  the  length  of  the  rest  allowed  the  men  permits  of  de- 
tailed instruction. 

A  knoicledge  of  how  to  conduct  small  groups  of  skirmishers  in  battle 
is  indispensable  to  noncommissioned  officers  and  corporals,  and  is 
indeed  the  basis  of  their  efficiency.  Exercises  like  those  which  are 
given  in  the  following  pages  will  be  particularly  profitable  to  them. 
These  exercises  are  also  especially  valuable  to  sharpshooters,  picked 
grenadiers,  and  machine  gunners,  who  by  reason  of  their  own  indi- 
vidual qualifications,  really  conduct  the  fight. 

3426°— 17 2  9 


10  METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

II.  PREPARATION  OF  THE  EXERCISES. 

STRENGTH  OF  THE   GROUPS  OF  SKIRMISHERS  TO  BE 
INSTRUCTED. 

The  instruction  should  be  individual.  When  skirmishers  maneu- 
ver in  a  group,  the  strength  of  the  group  ought  not  to  be  more  than 
15  men  in  order  that  it  may  be  possible  to  give  instruction  to  each 
individual  soldier.  (Each  group  of  skirmishers  will  always  include 
several  picked  grenadiers  and  one  or  two  machine  gimners.  In  each 
exercise  the  number  of  men  indicated  is  the  number  which  will 
permit  the  giving  of  the  instruction  under  the  best  conditions). 

Thus  the  groups  of  skirmishers  will  be  either  squads  or  half  platoons 
(one-eighth  of  a  company  at  full  strength)  from  which  the  noncom- 
missioned officers  will  often  be  withdrawn  in  order  to  give  complete 
initiative  to  the  skirmishers. 

Choice  of  ground. — The  following  exercises  are  practiced  only  in 
the  group  for  close  combat  (except  the  march  under  artillery  fire). 
Consequently,  it  is  not  necessary  to  have  a  very  large  field.  The 
smallest  uncultivated  field  may  be  used.  Choose  ground  of  varied 
character,  rather  irregular,  and  of  small  extent  in  order  to  allow 
opportunity  for  individual  action. 

Representation  of  features  of  the  exercise. — The  preparation  of  the 
exercise  demands  only  a  few  minutes  (all  that  is  necessary  is  to  deter- 
mine the  features  to  be  represented  and  to  adapt  them  to  the  ground 
at  one's  disposal).  The  enemy  will  be  represented  realistically  by 
groups  or  lines  of  skirmishers  placed  in  a  situation  conforming  exactly 
with  reality  (hardly  visible  places  from  which  to  direct  their  fire 
and  rapid  and  imperceptible  shifting).  The  side  representing  the 
enemy  will  be  directed  by  one  or  more  officers  or  noncommissioned 
officers,  to  whom  the  director  of  the  exercises  gives  the  necessary 
instructions  (signals  mutually  understood  if  possible).  The  whole 
advantage  of  the  exercise  depends  upon  the  manner  in  which  the 
features  are  represented  and  upon  the  impression  of  reality  produced. 
It  will  only  be  necessary  for  the  instructors  to  draw  upon  actual 
situations  experienced  in  war. 

Method  of  directing  the  exercise. — The  director  of  the  exercise 
brings  about  movements  of  the  skirmish  group  being  instructed, 
either  by  having  an  incident  produced  as  the  notion  strikes  him  (by 
means  of  a  signal  to  those  representing  the  enemy),  or  by  putting 
problems  up  to  the  group:  "You  notice  that  the  enemy's  fire  has 
slackened." — "Somewhere  in  those  bushes  there  is  an  enemy  skir- 
misher watching  you;  every  time  that  you  show  yourself  a  bullet 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS.  11 

cracks."  The  incidents  and  the  problems  should  always  be  in  accord 
with  the  simple  situations  which  occur  continually  in  the  course  of  close 
fighting.  The  mistakes  that  are  made  will  be  marked  by  eliminating 
the  men  who  are  responsible  for  them.  Therefore,  the  instructor 
should  keep  in  mind  the  conditions  of  close  fighting,  in  order  to  be 
able  to  determine  what  movements  are  possible  and  what  are  dan- 
gerous. An  excellent  means  of  putting  the  private  on  hia  guard 
against  certain  mistakes  is  to  remind  him  that  a  certain  mistake  was 
made  in  a  certain  combat  by  such  and  such  a  skirmisher  or  group  of 
skirmishers,  and  that  it  had  such  and  such  a  result.  After  the  exercise 
has  been  gone  through  with  once,  have  it  begun  all  over  again  after 
having  quickly  gone  over  and  criticised  the  mistakes  made  the  first 
time  (this  repetition  is  possible  for  most  of  the  exercises,  which  are 
always  very  short).  The  number  of  instructors  and  the  ground 
which  is  available  will  not  always  permit  of  having  the  exercise 
practiced  simultaneously  by  all  the  squads  or  half-sections.  These 
will  take  their  turn  rapidly  before  the  same  instructor  and  on  the 
same  ground. 

HI.  FIRST  SERIES  OF  EXERCISES— INDIVIDUAL  INSTRUCTION  IN 
SHOOTING  UNDER  CONDITIONS  OF  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

EXERCISE  No.  1. 

INSTRUCTIONS  IN  FIRING  UNDER  CONDITIONS  OF  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

The  object  of  this  exercise  is  to  teach  the  soldier  to  fire  carefully 
and  without  haste,  choosing  the  enemy  whom  he  wishes  to  bring  doivn. 
The  exercise  is  divided  into  two  parts: 

1.  The  arrangement  of  his  firing  position  by  each  skirmisher. — The 
instructor,  having  deployed  the  group  to  be  instructed  into  skir- 
mishers four  or  five  paces  apart,  instructs  each  man  to  post  himself 
so  as  to  fire  in  a  certain  direction.  Each  skirmisher  chooses  a 
position  near  where  he  is  when  the  order  is  given  and  proceeds  to 
arrange  it.  The  instructor  verifies  the  protection  and  concealment. 
In  the  course  of  the  work  he  places  himself  at  a  certain  distance  in 
advance  of  the  skirmishers  and  makes  sure  that  the  men  show 
themselves  as  little  as  possible,  that  they  do  not  attract  attention 
when  working,  that  the  appearance  of  the  ground  is  not  changed, 
and  that  the  evidences  of  ground  having  been  broken  are  covered  up. 

When  the  work  is  finished  the  instructor  has  fresh  skirmishers  occupy 
the  positions  that  have  been  arranged  and  takes  the  first  group  200 
meters  away  from  the  line  of  these  positions.  There  he  points  out 
the  mistakes  that  have  been  made  by  showing  which  positions  are 
too  visible  and  would  thus  attract  fire,  as  well  as  evidences  of  clumsi- 


12 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


ness  which  would  reveal  the  position  of  the  skirmishers  (rifles  show- 
ing, rifle  barrels  too  visible  while  the  skirmishers  are  shooting,  etc.). 
2.  Firing  at  objectives  which  are  common  on  the  battle  fitld. — The 
instructor  determines  in  advance  the  features  of  the  combat  to  be 
represented.  He  instructs  one  or  more  officers  or  noncommissioned 
officers  and  some  skirmishers  to  represent  the  enemy  and  gives  them 
special  orders  accordingly.  Upon  the  appearance  of  a  target  the 
skirmishers  fire  or  abstain  from  firing.  The  instructor  verifies  the 
target  chosen  and  the  range.  From  time  to  time  he  has  the  fire  of 
the  group  directed  by  a  skirmisher. 

FIRING   AT   MEDIUM   AND   AT   LONG   RANGES. 


Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction. 

One  fires  only  when  there  is  a  chance  of 
Jutting  the  target.  Beyond  600  meters  do 
not  fire  upon  individuals  or  upon  a  tar- 
get difficult  to  draw  a  bead  on;  as,  for  ex- 
ample, a  line  of  skirmishers  widely  sepa- 
rated from  each  other  and  moving  rap- 
idly. 


Features  to  represent. 


ENEMY  PATROLS. 


Let  enemy  patrols  approach  in  order  to 
be  more  certain  of  bringing  them  down. 

The  skirmishers  divide  among  themselves 
the  men  who  make  up  the  hostile  patrol. 

Avoid  showing  oneself  to  the  enemy, 
and  make  ready  to  fire  in  silence. 


Have  patrols  appear  marching  in  the 
direction  of  the  group  of  skirmishers. 

Distant  patrols  and  patrols  appearing 
suddenly  and  only  a  short  distance  away, 
in  order  to  accustom  the  skirmishers  to 
making  their  dispositions  quickly. 


FIRING  AGAINST  A  CHAIN   OF  ENEMY  SKIRMISHERS  WHO  HAVE   BEEN 

CHECKED. 


Locate  the  position  of  the  enemy  skirmish- 
ers by  observing  the  evidences  of  the 
ground  having  been  broken,  the  place 
whence  the  shots  come,  rifles  showing, 
etc. 

Keep  close  watch  on  the  enemy  whose  po- 
sition has  been  discovered,  take  aim,  and 
wait  for  him  to  show  himself. 

Fire  when  the  enemy  shows  himself  in 
order  to  reconnoiter,  fire,  or  work; 

When  one's  position  is  particularly  well 
located  by  the  enemy,  endeavor  to  shift  from 
the  discovered  position  without  attracting 
the  enemy's  attention. 

Fire  obliquely,  so  as  not  to  expose  one's 
self  to  point-blank  shots.  (This  applies 
especially  to  the  automatic-rifle  men 
equipped  with  automatic  rifles,  because 
they  are  easily  located  by  the  enemy.) 


Represent  at  a  distance  varying  from 
100  to  400  meters  a  line  of  skirmishers,  of 
whom  some  will  be  very  well  hidden  and 
others  will  commit  voluntarily  the  most 
usual  mistakes. 

In  the  course  of  the  different  exercises 
the  enemy  line  will  be  placed  in  different 
kinds  of  positions  (along  a  slope,  in  a 
trench,  in  a  field,  in  broken  ground, 
among  rubbish,  in  the  midst  of  bushes,  on 
the  edge  of  a  wood,  etc.)  in  order  to  ac- 
custom the  soldier  to  observe  quickly,  on 
whatever  kind  of  ground  the  enemy  may 
have  taken  up  his  position. 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


13 


FIRING    AT   A    MOVING    ADVERSARY. 


Ilava  the  line  of  skirmishers  represent- 
ing the  enemy  make  several  movements 
(quick  rushes,  creeping,  single  individ- 
uals leaping  from  shelter  to  shelter). 


Observe  carefully  all  the  signs  which  in- 
dicate that  the  enemy  is  going  to  shift  his 
position. 

Aim  9,1  a  point  which  you  know  the  enemy 
will  pass,  and  fire  when  he  reaches  that 
point. 

After  a  shift  of  position  tcaitfor  those  icho 
have  been  left  behind. 

TARGETS   WHICH   THE    SKIRMISHER   SHOULD   CHOOSE   IN   PREFERENCE 
TO   OTHERS. 


Represent   these   different   objectives 
during  the  course  of  the  exercise. 


Noncommissioned  officers. 

Machine  guns. 

Runners,  signalmen. 

Points  through  which  the  enemy  en- 
deavors to  creep  forward. 

Enemy  elements  in  movement. 

Enemy  batteries. 

On  the  appearance  of  these  targets,  the 
skirmisher  abandons  for  the  moment,  and 
without  receiving  any  order  to  do  so,  the 
target  which  he  has  been  firing  at. 

EXERCISE  No.  2. 

DISCOVERING   TARGETS. 

Intensive  utilization  of  the  ground  and  of  concealment  cause 
a  very  common  sensation— the  feeling  that  the  battle  field  is  empty. 
This  disagreeable  sensation  and  the  fire  received  from  an  invisible 
enemy  often  produce  disorder  or  cause  a  check  in  the  advance. 

The  following  exercise,  discovering  targets,  has  as  its  object  accus- 
toming the  skirmisher  to  distinguish  quickly  targets  which  are 
distant  and  difficult  to  perceive,  and  by  that  means  developing  his 
faculties  of  observation  and  his  keenness  of  vision. 

The  instructor  places  the  unit  to  be  instructed  (an  entire  platoon) 
in  a  position  from  which  the  view  is  extensive.  He  chooses  targets 
situated  at  distances  varying  from  600  to  1,000  meters.  These  targets 
will  take  the  form  of  a  deployed  line  on  a  level  with  the  ground,  and 
they  will  not  be  very  visible  (the  edge  of  a  field,  a  grassy  ditch,  a  cleared 
spot  or  a  darker  colored  spot  in  a  cultivated  field).  The  target 
having  been  designated,  each  soldier  takes  aim,  and  the  instructor 
walks  past  behind  each  skirmisher  and  makes  sure  that  he  is  aiming 
at  the  real  target.  (It  is  generally  discovered  that  there  is  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  the  men  who  are  aiming  at  something  else 
besides  the  real  target.)  The  instructor  may  have  the  targets  deaig- 


14  METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

nated  by  the  noncommissioned  officers  or  the  corporals.  The 
exercises  in  shooting  are  completed  by  the  exercises  in  shooting  in 
preparation  for  close  fighting.  (See  Exercise  in  close  fighting.) 

IV.  SECOND  SERIES  OF  EXERCISES— EXERCISES  IN  DEFENSE  FOR 
GROUPS  OF  SKIRMISHERS. 

EXERCISE  No.  3. 

DEFENSE  OF  A  LINE  QUICKLY   ORGANIZED  DURING  THE  FIGHT. 

Tliis  exercise  is  a  direct  application  of  the  preceding  exercise. 
to  which  is  added  further  instruction. 

FIRST  PART. 
OCCUPATION  OF  THE  POSITION  BY  THE  SKIRMISHERS. 

The  squad  under  instruction  must  defend  a  position,  in  a  sector 
designated  by  the  instructor,  against  a  force  twice  or  three  times 
its  own  strength  and  placed  at  from  500  to  600  meters  away. 

Arrangement  of  firing  positions. — The  instructor  deploys  the  squad 
as  skirmishers  five  paces  apart;  he  instructs  each  man  to  choose  the 
most  favorable  position  near  the  place  where  he  is  and  to  arrange  it. 

Watching  the  terrain. — The  instructor  teaches  his  men  how  to 
watch  the  terrain.  lie  shows  them  the  points  to  which  they  should 
give  particular  attention;  the  lines  from  which  the  enemy  may 
emerge  (ridges,  edges  of  woods,  hedges,  etc.);  the  shelters  wliich 
the  enemy  will  endeavor  to  reach;  the  groups  which  may  be  able 
to  creep  forward.  If  it  is  possible,  the  range  corresponding  to  these 
different  points  will  be  estimated. 

SECOND  PART. 
DEFENSE  AGAINST  THE  APPROACH  OF  THE  ENEMY. 

Having  already  decided  what  action  the  enemy  will  take,  the 
instructor  will  have  the  enemy  advance.  (See  the  preceding  exer- 
cise for  the  representation  of  the  features  of  the  fight  and  the  points 
upon  which  to  give  instruction.) 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


15 


FURTHER    POINTS    UPON    WHICH    TO    GIVE    INSTRUCTION. 


Features  to  represent. 

Choose  ground  which  presents  a  dead 
angle  before  the  position,  so  as  to  oblige 
the  skirmishers  to  shift  their  positions  in 
order  to  get  around  the  dead  angle. 

llave  several  groups  of  enemy  skir- 
mishers posted  in  a  ditch  or  behind  a 
slcpe  which  it  is  possible  to  enfilade  by 
a  slight  shift  of  position. 

Movements  of  small  groups  of  the 
enemy  attempting  to  sneak  around  the 
flanks  of  the  defenders. 


Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction. 

Always  try  to  take  the  enemy  by  surprise 
in  fir  ing. 

H'Acn  the  position  no  longer  permits 
firing  on  the  enemy,  shift  to  another.  (Utili- 
zation of  rifle  grenades.) 

Automatic  riflemen  should  seize  every 
occasion/or  enfilading  the  enemy  or  firing 
upon  him  obliquely.  (Shift  your  position 
if  necessary.) 

Forestall  the  outflanking  movements  of 
the  enemy  and  all  his  attempts  to  fire  on 
the  position  from  the  flank. 

Organize  for  resistance  in  the  position 
despite  a  threat  of  envelopment. 

In  order  to  make  the  exercise  more  interesting,  the  instructor  may 
arrange  it  in  the  following  manner:  The  defending  group  must 
prevent  the  assailants  from  approaching  a  line  determined  on  in 
advance  (at  assaulting  distance  or  as  far  as  a  hand  grenade  can  be 
thrown).  To  do  this,  every  time  that  the  defenders  fire  skillfully 
the  instructor  will  remove  one  or  several  of  the  assailants  from  the 
fight.  On  the  olher  hand,  every  defender  who  makes  a  mistake 
(position  not  skillfully  fixed  up,  skirmisher  exposing  himself  for  too 
long  a  time  to  make  observations  or  to  fire,  etc.)  will  likewise  be 
put  out. 


16  METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

THIRD  PART. 
DEFENSE  AGAINST  THE  ASSAULT. 

Place  the  enemy  in  a  line  of  shelters  about  150  meters  away  from 
the  defenders. 


Features  to  represent. 

Have  several  enemy  patrols  come  out. 
If  the  defenders  fire,  suppose  that  a  cer- 
tain number  of  the  defenders  are  after- 
wards disabled  by  the  enemy  bombard- 
ment. 

Have  waves  of  assault  appear.  (Sup- 
pose that  there  are  liquid-fire  throwers 
among  them.) 


Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction. 

Do  not  fire  upon  enemy  reconnoitering 
parties  who  come  out  to  determinine  the 
effects  of  the  preparation. 

When  the  assaulting  waves  appear,  do 
not  fire  at  haphazard;  choose  an  adversary 
(officers  and  noncommissioned  officers 
whenever  possible,  squad  leaders,  liquid- 
fire  throwers,  grenadiers,  etc.)  and  aim  at 
him  coolly.  (The  instructor  will  give  his 
attention  especially  to  this  point.) 

TLe  men  supplied  with  V.  B.  rifle  gren- 
ades will  establish  a  sustained  barrage 
fire. 

When  the  adversary  approaches  within 
a  distance  of  50  meters,  put  down  the  rifle 
in  order  to  establish  a  barrage  with  grenades. 

COUNTER  ATTACK  -WITH  THE  BAYONET. 

The  instructor  will  always  have  a  coun- 
ter attack  executed  with  the  bayonet,  in  order 
to  seize  a  part  of  the  enemy's  defenses  in 
the  pursuit  as  he  falls  back,  or  to  drive  off 
the  enemy  when  he  has  taken  position 
prone  on  the  ground  at  a  short  distance 
away,  or  to  render  assistance  to  a  neigh- 
boring unit. 

EXERCISE  No.  4. 

DEFENSE  OF  A  TRENCH  WHICH  HAS  BEEN  ORGANIZED  FOR  SOME 

TIME. 

For  this  exercise,  construct  a  trench  element  (a  roughly  made 
trench  representing  a  trench  that  has  been  torn  up),  or  a  shelter  (if 
necessary,  simply  a  corridor  with  a  slight  covering,  as  large  as  the 
exit  of  a  shelter  and  large  enough  to  hold  a  squad). 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


17 


Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction.         Features  to  represent. 


Lookouts. 

The  lookouts  remain  constantly  at  their 
posts,  even  during  the  most  violent  bom- 
bardment. They  are  relieved  very  fre- 
quently (about  every  ten  minutes  during 
the  bombardment). 

The  officers  andnoncomm issioned  officers 
make  frequent  inspections  to  see  that  the 
lookouts  are  vigilant. 

Gas  alarms. 


The  instructor  has  the  lookout  service 
represented. 


While  the  noncom.  is  inside  the  shelter, 
the  instructor  removes  the  lookouts. 


RECONNAISSANCES    AND    ENEMY   ATTACKS. 

(Refer  to  the  preceding  exercise.) 

POSITION    INVADED    BY   THE    ENEMY. 


1.  The  enemy  gets  into  the  trench  be- 
fore the  garrison  comes  out  of  the  shelter: 
Clear  a  space  about  the  exit  with  the 
grenades  provided  for  this  purpose  inside 
the  shelter. 

2.  The  enemy  passes  over  the  trench 
and  assaults  the  next  trench:  Face  to  the 
rear  and  shoot  the  enemy  in  the  back. 

3.  The  enemy  gets  into  certain  parts  of 
the  trench:  The  men  who  are  in  contact 
with  the  enemy  organize  for  themselves  a 
breastwork  with  sacks  of  earth  and  dispute 
possession  of  the  ground  with  grenades. 
The  nearest  noncommissioned   officers 
prepare   a   counter  attack  with  grenades 
immediately. 

4.  The  group  is  surrounded  by  the 
enemy:  Organize  the  defense  so  as  to  be  able 
to  offer  resistance  on  every  side  by  using  the 
connecting  trenches  and  shell  holes  to 
form  a  kind  of  closed  work.    Collect  all 
munitions  in  order  to  prevent  waste. 

3426°— 17 -3 


The  instructor  has  the  attack  on  the 
trench  started  and  represents  the  features 
in  the  following  manner; 

The  alarm  signal  is  given  at  the  mo- 
ment the  enemy  approaches  the  trench. 

Several  of  the  enemy  assigned  to  clean- 
ing up  the  trench  are  left  about  the 
shelter,  while  the  group  representing  the 
assaulting  wave  continues  to  advance. 

The  instructor  places  several  enemy 
groups  in  the  parts  of  the  trench  near 
that  portion  which  is  occupied  by  the 
unit  being  instructed. 


Suppose   that   the   noncommissioned 
officers  are  disabled,  in  order  to  accuston 
the  men  to  resisting  even  when  thro\| 
on  their  own  resources. 


18  METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

V.  THIRD  SERIES  OF  EXERCISES— EXERCISES  IN  APPROACH  FOR 
GROUPS  OF  SKIRMISHERS. 

EXERCISE  No.  5. 

PRACTICE   IN   THE   UTILIZATION    OF    THE    GROUND    IN   ORDER   TO 
ADVANCE. 

The  instructor  deploys  the  squad  to  be  instructed  (without  the 
corporal),  with  intervals  of  five  paces  between  the  men  in  a  shelter 
situated  at  a  medium  distance  of  from  200  to  400  meters  from  the 
portion  of  the  enemy  represented.  He  instructs  the  skirmishers  to 
approach,  each  one  using  his  own  judgment,  to  within  150  meters 
(assaulting  distance)  or  to  within  30  meters  (distance  for  throwing 
hand  grenades)  of  the  enemy  position.  (This  exercise  is  not  for 
studying  the  method  of  advance.  Its  sole  purpose  is  to  study  the 
utilization  of  the  ground.) 

FIRST  PART   OF  THE    EXERCISE. 

Each  skirmisher  advances,  utilizing  the  ground  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. The  instructor  does  not  hesitate  to  point  out  mistakes  in  the 
course  of  the  exercise.  The  men  who  disclose  themselves  uselessly 
and  are  clumsy  in  utilizing  the  ground  are  assumed  to  be  disabled, 
and  are  ordered  to  remain  in  place  while  the  others  advance. 

SECOND   PART. 

The  instructor  points  out  rapidly  the  mistakes  that  have  been 
made  (marked  by  the  men  left  in  place).  He  shows  how  the  ground 
should  have  been  utilized.  He  brings  out  especially  the  following 
points,  which  are  the  principal  things  to  learn  from  the  exercise.  A 
skirmisher  should  never  see  a  new  shelter  several  paces  in  front  of  him 
without  throwing  himself  into  it.  Before  advancing,  he  must  know 
exactly  the  shelter  that  he  wishes  to  gain,  and  he  must  consider  carefully 
the  manner  in  which  he  is  to  make  the  movement. 

METHODS    OF   MAKING   THE   FORWARD   MOVEMENT. 

Rush. — If  the  rush  is  made  in  a  group,  there  should  be  a  concerted 
signal  for  the  start.  Do  not  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy  before 
starting.  Spread  out  while  running.  There  must  be  no  laggards. 

Creeping  forward. — Use  the  same  manner  of  approach  as  those 
near  by,  if  it  permits  creeping  into  a  new  position  without  making 
a  rush  over  open  ground.  Complete  the  approach  with  tools,  if 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS.  19 

necessary.     Carefully  avoid  creeping  one  after  the  other  through  the 
same  approach,  unless  completely  hidden. 

When  a  new  shelter  has  been  gained,  enlarge  it,  if  necessary,  in 
order  to  make  room  for  others  to  come  in. 

This  exercise  may  appear  simple  and  well  known  to  all;  neverthe- 
less it  can  not  be  too  often  repeated.  In  combat,  the  use  of  the  ground 
in  order  to  advance  is  extremely  difficult,  because  the  men  have  not 
sufficiently  learned  beforehand  how  to  observe  the  ground  from  a 
position  on  a  level  with  the  surface,  and  because  this  lack  of  skill  is 
aggravated  by  a  sort  of  paralysis  caused  by  the  near-by  crack  of  the 
bullets. 

EXERCISE  No.  6. 

EXERCISE  IN  MAKING   AN   ADVANCE  UNDER   ARTILLERY  FIRE— FOR 
SKIRMISHERS   AND   SMALL    GROUPS   OF   SKIRMISHERS. 

Zones  which  are  under  artillery  fire  are  usually  traversed  in 
small  columns  or  in  skirmish  lines;  in  this  case  the  soldier  has  only 
to  follow  the  commands  of  the  officers  and  noncommissioned  officers . 

Often,  however,  on  account  of  the  violence  or  the  suddenness  of  the 
fire,  the  officers  and  noncommissioned  officers  must  give  up  the  ordinary 
methods  of  advance.  The  skirmishers  then  find  themselves  thrown 
for  the  moment  on  their  own  resources.  If  each  man  is  not  familiar 
with  the  skirmish  maneuvers,  that  is,  if  he  is  not  capable  of  acting 
so  as  to  accomplish  the  desired  purpose  when  he  is  alone  and  does  not 
receive  any  orders,  the  group  breaks  up,  scatters,  and  disappears  for 
the  rest  of  the  combat. 

The  cases  in  which  the  skirmisher  will  have  to  depend  upon  his 
own  initiative  under  artillery  fire  are  the  following: 

1.  Passing  through  a  violent  barrage  fire  of  heavy  artillery. — The 
instructor  emphasizes  the  following  points: 

Each  one  advances  in  his  own  manner,  and  tries ' '  to  dodge  between 
the  shells. ''  When  a  shell  is  heard  approaching,  lie  doivn  in  a  shelter 
(shell  hole),  then  run  quickly  to  the  next  shelter,  the  moment  after  the 
explosion  of  the  shell,  and  continue  thus  until  the  zone  of  the  barrage 
fire  is  passed. 

The  movement  is  begun  on  the  command:  "Each  one  for  himself, 
forward, "  or  when  the  platoon  chief  is  seen  to  adopt  this  mode  of 
advance. 

In  the  course  of  the  advance,  the  skirmisher  observes  the  movements 
of  his  platoon  chief,  which  are  his  guide  as  to  how  he  is  to  conduct 
himself.  He  goes  toward  a  shelter  near  his  chief  when  he  sees  him  stop 
or  give  the  signal  for  "assemble, "  In  addition  it  is  a  good  thing  to 


20  METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

teach  the  officers  and  noncommissioned  officers  how  to  tell  the  zones 
where  the  barrage  fire  is  less  violent,  so  that  they  may  lead  their  men 
in  that  direction. 

The  instructor  will  insist  especially  on  the  fact  that  the  best  way  to 
escape  a  barrage  fire  is  to  get  through  it  quickly.  There  is  no  lack  of 
examples  to  prove  that  the  losses  fall  especially  upon  the  men  who 
haven't  the  courage  to  follow  their  unit. 

2.  The  men  are  greeted  with  a  sudden  and  violent  outburst  of  fire 
from  the  77' s. — The  instructor  emphasizes  the  following  points:  Lie 
down  quickly  in  the  nearest  shelter  at  the  command  of  "Lie  down," 
or  when  the  chief  of  the  unit  lies  down.  Do  not  move  during  the 
outburst,  for  the  artillery  may  be  persuaded  to  cease  firing  if  the 
target  is  no  longer  visible.  When  the  outburst  has  stopped,  have 
only  one  idea,  to  advance  in  order  to  get  out  of  the  marked  zone.  One 
at  a  time  the  men  cautiously  begin  to  advance  again,  so  as  not  to  provoke 
a  new  outburst.  One  man's  clumsiness  is  enough  to  draw  the  artillery 
fire  upon  the  whole  group.  Utilize  the  ground  so  as  to  get  through 
unnoticed ;  take  care  not  to  advance  several  at  a  time.  Thus  rally 
little  by  little  about  the  platoon  chief,  who  should  advance  in  front 
of  his  men  with  the  same  caution  they  themselves  display. 

The  exercise  can  be  carried  on  in  the  following  manner:  A  bugle 
is  used  to  represent  the  fire  of  the  artillery,  each  blast  representing 
the  arrival  of  a  shell.  One  may  adopt  the  following  scheme  to 
represent  the  average  intensities  of  artillery  fire:  Medium  intensity 
(1  to  3  blasts  a  minute  on  a  company  front);  violent  barrage  fire  of 
large  caliber  (about  10  blasts  a  minute);  sudden  outburst  from  the 
77's  (from  20  to  30  blasts  a  minute). 

The  instructor  deploys  the  unit  to  be  instructed  (half  platoon) 
as  skirmishers  at  4  or  5  pace  interval  (single  squad  line)  and  puts 
it  in  motion  toward  a  distant  objective. 

FIRST  PART. 

March  under  artillery  fire  under  conditions  which  are  common. — 
Rushes  of  considerable  extent  or  quick  rushes  at  the  command  of 
the  noncommissioned  officer  who  leads  the  unit.  Action  by  the 
file  closers,  who  keep  each  man  in  his  place,  either  by  keeping 
everybody  in  alignment  or  by  making  the  men  close  up  the  ranks. 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS.  21 

SECOND   PART. 

(Refer  to  what  has  been  said  previously.) 

Going  through  a  violent  barrage  fire  of  heavy  artillery. — The  instruc- 
tor supposes  that  a  barrage  fire  100  or  200  meters  long  (long  enough 
for  the  exercise)  is  established  on  a  crest,  along  a  road,  etc. — Advance 
one  at  a  time. 

Sudden  and  violent  outbursts  of  77' s. — Advance  one  by  one. 

After  each  one  of  these  incidences,  the  instructor  has  the  march 
resumed  under  the  ordinary  conditions  encountered  under  artillery  fire, 
in  order  to  reform  his  men,  and  to  demonstrate  conclusively  that 
the  way  to  conduct  one's  self  under  the  above  two  conditions  fre- 
quently encountered  in  the  march  under  artillery  fire,  is  not  to 
begin  to  scatter  and  fall  into  disorder,  but  to  progress  according  to  a 
method  laid  down. 

EXERCISE  No.  7. 

EXERCISE   IN   ATTACK   TO    BE   EXECUTED   BY   A    GROUP   OP 
SKIRMISHERS. 

The  object  of  this  exercise  is  to  teach  the  skirmishers  how  to 
approach  the  enemy  while  protecting  themselves  by  their  own  fire. 
(It  is  a  reproduction  of  the  exercise  for  utilization  of  the  ground, 
to  which  is  added  the  idea  of  protection  by  one's  own  fire.) 

In  the  first  place,  the  instructor  places  the  group  to  be  instructed 
(without  any  noncommissioned  officers)  at  about  400  meters  from 
the  represented  enemy.  He  instructs  the  group  to  approach  the 
enemy  position  either  to  assaulting  distance  or  to  the  distance 
proper  for  grenade  throwing. 

Conventions:  An  advance  can  not  be  made  over  open  ground 
until  the  moment  when  the  fire  of  the  enemy  is  supposed  to  dimin- 
ish or  cease.  For  the  purpose  of  securing  conditions  proper  for  this 
exercise,  the  instructor  will  represent  losses  on  the  part  of  the 
adversary  whenever  the  assailant  carries  on  the  fight  skillfully  by 
his  fire.  On  the  other  hand,  each  assailant  who  makes  a  mistake 
will  be  eliminated  from  the  exercise. 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


POINTS   UPON    WHICH   TO    GIVE    INSTRUCTION. 

1.  Those  indicated  in  the  preceding  exercise  (utilization  of  the 
ground  in  order  to  advance). 

2.  The  following  new  points: 

FIRE   PREPARATION   AND   SUPPORT   OF   A   MOVEMENT. 


Points  on  which  to  give  instruction. 

Before  advancing,  locate  and  destroy  or 
intimidate  the  enemy  skirmishers.  (See 
exercise  No.  1,  in  the  paragraph  Fire 
against  an  enemy  line  which  has  been 
slopped— fire  combat.) 

When  a  neighboring  group  is  about  to 
advance,  take  aim  at  the  points  occupied 
by  the  enemy  skirmishers,  in  order  to  be 
ready  to  fire  as  soon  as  they  appear  (auto- 
matic rifles  and  machine  guns). 

Before  advancing,  notify  neighboring 
groups,  in  order  that  they  may  prepare 
to  fire  upon  the  enemy  skirmishers. 


Features  to  represent. 

If  the  fire  combat  has  been  well  man- 
aged, have  the  enemy  skirmishers  appear 
more  and  more  rarely. 


During  a  movement  have  several  en- 
emy skirmishers  appear. 


If  the  movement  is  not  protected  by 
fire,  eliminate  several  skirmishers  from 
the  exercise. 


OPPORTUNITIES   TO    ADVANCE. 


Cessation  or  slowing  up  of  the  enemy's 
fire;  fire  badly  directed. 

Suspension  of  fire  or  inattention  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy. 

Fire  by  our  artillery.  It  should  be 
firmly  fixed  in  the  mind  of  each  skir- 
misher that  effective  fire  by  our  artillery 
in  the  course  of  the  combat  means  "  For- 
ward." 

Teach  the  skirmishers  to  be  able  to  tell 
readily  whenever  parts  of  the  enemy  line 
are  unoccupied,  so  that  they  may  slip 
into  them. 


Represent  these  conditions  by  word  of 
mouth  [i.  e.,  simply  say  "The  enemy's 
fire  has  ceased,  etc."]. 


Have  a  part  of  the  enemy  line  evacu- 
ated progressively  by  a  well-concealed 
movement. 


EXERCISE  No.  8. 

EXERCISE  IN  ATTACK.    TO  BE  EXECUTED  BY   SEVERAL  GROUPS  OF 
SKIRMISHERS. 

The  object  of  this  exercise  is  to  teach  the  different  parts  of  a  chain 

of  skirmishers  to  combine  their  efforts  in  the  course  of  the  combat. 

The  same  dispositions  and  the  same  conventions  are  used  as  in  the 

preceding  exercises.    The  groups  of  skirmishers  will   be  either 

-  or  small  parties  of  varying  strength  placed  by  the  instructor 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


23 


under  shelters  of  different  appearance  (chain  of  skirmishers  in  a 
position  for  close  combat).  The  corporals  and  the  noncommis- 
sioned officers  will  be  apportioned  among  the  groups  of  skirmishers. 


Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction. 

The  groups  •which  are  favored  the  most 
by  the  ground  approach  as  near  as  pos- 
sible to  the  enemy,  in  order  to  start 
the  movement  in  advance.  These  groups 
enlarge  the  shelter  which  they  attain,  so 
as  to  permit  other  groups  to  join  them. 

The  groups  endeavor  to  discover  unoc- 
cupied spots  which  may  exist  in  the  en- 
emy line,  so  that  they  may  slip  into  such 
places  and  break  up  the  enemy's  resist- 
ance by  outflanking  him. 

They  seize  every  occasion  for  taking 
the  enemy  in  flank  and  bringing  oblique 
or  enfilading  fire  on  him. 

Groups  which  have  halted  protect  by  their 
fire  groups  which  are  advancing  (previous 
understanding  if  possible). 

The  machine  gunners  seek  every  occa- 
sion/or protecting  the  movement  in  advance 
and  for  inflicting  a  surprise  by  fire  upon  the 
enemy. 

They  will  slip  into  the  shelters  situated 
in  advance  or  on  the  flanks  of  the  chain  of 
skirmishers,  and  will  hide  themselves  care- 
fuUy.  They  will  reveal  themselves  only 
at  the  moment  that  a  favorable  opportu- 
nity presents  itself. 


Features  to  represent. 

Choose  an  irregular  field,  favorable  to 
the  action  of  small  groups  of  skirmishers. 
Separate  the  groups  by  intervals,  so  as  to 
give  them  greater  liberty  of  movement. 


Represent  an  enemy  line  of  combat, 
not  continuous,  and  composed  of  ele- 
ments, some  more  advanced  than  others. 


Place  enemy  parties  behind  a  slope,  in 
a  sunken  road,  etc.,  so  that  they  may  be 
enfiladed  by  groups  which  succeed  in 
slipping  forward  to  the  slope  or  road. 


The  instructor  will  improvise  small  in 
cidents,  the  object  of  which  is  to  teach 
machine  gunners  to  surprise  the  enemy. 

For  example:  Enemy  line  which  re- 
veals itself  in  order  to  fire  during  a  move- 
ment of  our  men  or  during  the  assault; 
advance  of  the  enemy  over  a  passageway 
which  may  be  swept  by  our  fire;  a  group 
of  enemy  skirmishers  halts  upon  a  spot 
which  may  be  enfiladed. 


VI.  FOURTH  SERIES  OF  EXERCISES— EXERCISES  IN  MAKING  AN 
ASSAULT  AND  IN  CLOSE  FIGHTING. 

PREPARATORY  EXERCISES. 

A  considerable  proportion  of  the  value  of  the  individual  combatant 
is  in  the  assault.  One  must  seek,  therefore,  by  appropriate  exer- 
cises, to  develop  to  the  highest  degree  the  talent  of  the  skirmisher  for 
the  assault  and  for  the  combat  which  follows. 

EXERCISES   IN   BAYONET   FIGHTING. 

The  assault  necessitates  hand-to-hand  fighting.  A  man  naturally 
hesitates  to  come  into  actual  physical  contact  with  the  enemy,  and 
life  in  the  trenches  increases  this  natural  tendency.  Bayonet  fenc- 
ing should  be  practiced  in  order  to  develop  the 'aggressive  spirit  of 
the  combatant  as  well  as  his  vigor  and  agility. 


24  METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

I.    MOVEMENTS    IN    PLACE     (WITHOUT  ADVANCING    OR    RETREATING). 

A  short  review  of  the  bayonet-fencing  movements  for  the  purpose 
of  verifying  the  correctness  of  these  before  going  on  to  the  exercises 
in  their  practical  application. 

II.    MOVEMENTS   AGAINST  THE    DUMMY. 

In  place. — Place  the  soldier  before  the  dummy  and  give  him  very 
rapidly  the  commands  for  a  series  of  movements:  "Thrust,  Thrust 
again,  Right  face  and  thrust,  etc."  The  soldier  should  face  about, 
at  a  bound  and  without  stopping,  from  one  direction  to  another 
and  should  thrust  home  each  time.  Duration  of  the  exercise:  30 
seconds  for  each  man. 

Charge  against  the  dummy. — The  dummy  should  be  about  the  size 
of  a  head,  in  order  to  oblige  the  men  to  thrust  accurately.  The 
squad  having  been  placed  about  50  meters  from  the  dummy,  each 
man  in  his  turn  rushes  upon  the  dummy  and  executes  several  move- 
ments at  the  command  of  the  instructor.  The  instructor  should 
give  his  special  attention  to  the  correctness  and  the  vigor  of  the  move- 
ments and  the  accuracy  of  the  thrusts.  Also  have  the  men  attack 
dummies  placed  at  the  bottom  or  on  the  opposite  sides  of  trenches 
(sunken  roads,  etc.)  in  order  to  accustom  them  to  thrust  far  and  at 
the  same  time  keep  their  balance  on  the  edge  of  the  parapet. 

Fencing  against  dummies,  combined  with  the  surmounting  of  ob- 
stacles.— Choose  irregular  ground,  and  set  up  on  it  obstacles  placed 
close  together.  Set  up  groups  of  dummies  in  various  places.  The 
instructor  decides  upon  the  route  that  is  to  be  followed.  Each 
soldier  is  sent  forward  in  turn  against  the  dummies;  a  record  is 
taken  of  the  time  which  each  takes  to  cover  the  course.  The  estab- 
lishment of  obstacles  will  be  easy  in  a  copse  or  underwood,  in  which 
it  will  be  sufficient  to  bend  over  the  branches  to  various  heights. 

Exercises  containing  the  element  of  sport. — Exercises  containing  the 
element  of  sport  are  excellent  means  of  developing  the  individual 
courage  of  the  soldier  and  giving  him  confidence  in  his  strength  and 
agility.  Agility  is  particularly  necessary  because  the  struggle  takes 
place  on  ground  that  is  torn  up,  among  barbed  wire,  craters  (shell 
and  mine),  and  trenches. 

Every  day  the  troops  will  practice:  Leaping  obstacles  and  ditches 
or  streams;  foot  races  and  relay  races,  combined  with  the  leaping  of 
obstacles. 

To  teach  them  to  surmount  quickly  accessory  defenses,  set  up  an 
entanglement  not  very  closely  woven  to  represent  an  entanglemeni 


METHOD. OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS.  25 

that  is  not  completely  destroyed.     Similar  entanglements  may  be 
set  up  on  the  course  where  the  obstacle  races  are  held. 

Exercises  in  firing  in  preparation  for  close  combat. — In  a  melee,  the 
assailant  is  exposed  in  the  open  before  an  enemy  who  is  under  cover; 
lie  can  not  see  clearly;  it  is  necessary  therefore  to  have  him  practice  in 
distinguishing  enemy  skirmishers  immediately  and  anticipating  their 
fire  by  firing  upon  any  adversary  who  may  appear. 

The  instructor  places  a  certain  number  of  skirmishers  representing 
the  enemy  on  rather  irregular  ground  (combination  of  trenches, 
brush,  debris).  These  skirmishers,  well  hidden,  appear  and  disap- 
pear, making  the  movements  of  the  charge  and  of  fire  from  behind 
shelter. 

Exercise  executed  in  place. — The  skirmishers  to  be  instructed  are 
placed  in  the  position  about  50  meters  from  the  enemy.  They  ob- 
serve the  movements  of  the  enemy  and  take  aim  as  soon  as  an  enemy 
appears.  At  the  beginning  of  the  exercise  aim  is  to  be  taken  sloicly, 
each  man  indicating  the  mark  at  which  he  aims;  then  aim  is  taken 
more  rapidly,  but  always  correctly. 

else  executed  on  the  march. — The  instructor  will  then  have  the 
skirmishers  march  upon  the  enemy  line.  Each  man  keeps  his  eyes 
open  while  advancing.  On  the  appearance  of  an  adversary,  he  stops 
and  fires. 

Exercise  combined  mih  the  surmounting  of  obstacles. — The  skirmish- 
ers who  execute  the  two  previous  exercises  correctly  may  be  prac- 
ticed at  traversing  difficult  ground  or  at  getting  through  entangle- 
ments under  the  protection  of  their  fire. 

Exercises  in  throwing  grenades. — Grenades -are  in  continuous  use  in 
the  course  of  a  combat  at  close  quarters.  In  all  the  exercises,  the 
men  will  be  supplied  with  cloth  balls,  so  as  to  accustom  them  to 
having  recourse  to  the  grenade  in  the  course  of  a  fight.  Daily  prac- 
tice should  be  had  in  grenade  throwing  (in  various  positions,  behind 
obstacles,  etc.). 

EXERCISE  No.  9. 

ASSAULT  PREPARED   BY   THE   ARTILLERY. 

(Exjercise  for  half  platoon.) 

The  assault  prepared  by  the  artillery  is  the  general  case  of  a 
coordinated  assault. 

In  this  exercise  only  a  small  number  of  features  are  represented,  in 
order  to  fix  in  a  clear-cut  manner  the  outline  of  the  assault  before  going 
into  details.  The  instructor  should  give  his  entire  attention  to  the 
IDEA  OF  ORDER,  which  should  be  profoundly  inculcated  in  even 


26  METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

the  least  important  skirmisher.  In  critical  moments  of  particularly 
unstable  morale,  in  which  badly  led  troops  go  to  pieces  in  a  few 
minutes,  order  must  take  precedence  over  rapidity.  Steady  men  know 
neither  waverings  in  the  ranks  nor  halts,  because  all  march  together 
with  the  same  step.  Nor  do  they  retire,  because  the  man  who 
becomes  confused  and  turns  his  head  to  right  or  left,  seeking  en- 
couragement, finds  his  neighbors  in  their  places,  instead  of  finding 
either  emptiness  or  confusion.  Men  who  know  how  to  fight  in 
good  order  are  tightly  bound  to  their  leaders.  They  drive  ardently 
into  the  enemy  lines  and  remain  grouped  in  good  order  in  spite  of 
obstacles  surmounted  and  kilometers  passed  over.  Troops  without 
cohesion  or  discipline  disappear  at  the  first  trench  of  the  enemy. 
Disorder  and  loss  are  inseparable.  The  endeavor  to  inculcate  the 
notion  of  order  in  critical  moments  is  manifested  by  a  series  of  mea- 
sures of  detail  which  occur  in  the  execution  of  each  movement  in  the 
course  of  the  exercise. 

Organization  of  the  exercise. — The  enemy  position  will  consist  of  a 
double  line  of  defenses,  about  100  meters  apart  (trenches  or  obsta- 
cles hastily  organized  in  the  course  of  a  combat).  The  half  platoon 
is  placed,  at  the  beginning  of  the  exercise,  at  about  150  meters 
from  the  represented  enemy  position,  the  men  deployed  at  intervals 
of  4  or  5  paces.  This  exercise,  practiced  by  a  small  number  of  men, 
permits  each  skirmisher  to  be  instructed  in  detail  regarding  the 
critical  circumstances  of  the  fight  in  which  he  will  frequently  be 
thrown  on  his  own  resources.  It  is  an  excellent  preparation  for 
analogous  exercises  for  platoons  and  companies. 

The  exercise  includes  the  jumping  off,  the  advance,  the  charge, 
the  crossing  of  the  first  trench,  the  re-forming  beyond  the  first  trench, 
and  the  assault  on  the  second  trench. 

1.  The  jumping  off. — Preparation  of  the  Bortie  steps.     Concealing 
the  preparatory  movements.     Simultaneous  sortie  on  the  whole  front 
of  the  group.     (It  is  especially  important  to  assure  good  order  at  the 
moment  of  departure,  and  in  order  to  make  sure  of  this,  the  advance  for 
the  first  few  yards  should  be  made  at  a  walk.)    Also  represent  the 
case  of  a  sortie  by  squad  columns  through  openings  in  the  entangle- 
ment.   Have  the  columns  deploy  when  they  have  passed  the  en- 
tanglement.   Give  attention  to  every  flaw  which  may  occur  in  the 
movement. 

2.  The  advance. — Long-distance  rushes  at  rapid  pace.    Alignment. 
Fire  before  the  charge  is  prohibited.    When  obstacles  (craters  or  en- 
tanglements) are  encountered,  advance  toward  practicable  passages 
or  openings.    Pass  quickly  through  the  openings  and  re-form  imme- 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


27 


diately  on  the  other  side.  According  to  the  orders  given,  either  con- 
tinue the  advance  or  lie  down  on  the  other  side  of  the  obstacle  and 
get  ready  to  open  fire  to  cover  the  passage  of  the  men  who  follow. 
The  latter  is  particularly  the  role  of  automatic  riflemen.  When 
halted,  grenades  (represented  by  cloth  bags)  should  be  thrown  if 
possible.  The  group  that  is  halted  advances  again  as  soon  as  it  has 
re-formed. 

3.   The  charge— 


Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction. 

At  50  meters  from  the  enemy  lower  the 
bayonet  and  charge  straight  upon  the  enemy 
trench. 

During  the  advance  watch  carefully  the 


Features  to  represent. 

Place  several  men  in  the  enemy  posi- 
tion and  have  them  appear  during  the 
last  part  of  the  advance  and  retire  on  the 
flanks  at  the  moment  when  the  skir- 


enemy  position.    Shoot  any  enemy  who  j  mishers  arrive  at  the  enemy  position. 


may  appear. 


Have  a  larger  number  of  men  make  their 
appearance  if  the  inarch  has  been  too 
slow. 


4.   The  crossing  of  the  first  trench — 


Go  over  the  trench  in  a  single  bound. 

Nail  on  the  spot  any  enemy  that  shows 
himself. 

In  passing,  throw  grenades  into  the 
opening  of  the  shelters. 


Place  dummies  in  the  position. 


Represent  entrances  to  shelters.  Each 
man  should  throw  a  rag  ball  into  these 
entrances,  without  pausing  to  do  so. 


Have  several  enemies  appear  in  the 
second  trench. 


5.  The  re-forming  beyond  the  first  trench — 
Rt-form  in  line  lying  prone  beyond  the 

captured  trench. 

Open  fire  on  the  succeeding  defenses  if 
there  is  opportunity  (machine  guns  and 
automatic  rifles). 

As  soon  as  the  line  is  re-formed,  continue 
the  assault. 

6.  The  assault  on  the  second  trench. — The  same  procedure  is  followed 
as  for  the  first  trench.     This  second  assault  is  always  to  be  repre- 
sented, in  order  to  accustom  the  men  to  advance  at  a  single  burst  as 
far  as  the  furthest  limit  of  their  objectives,  stopping  just  exactly  long 
enough  after  surmounting  an  obstacle  or  carrying  a  line  of  defenses  to 
re-form  their  lines. 


28 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


EXERCISE  No.  10. 

ASSAULT  PREPARED  BY  GRENADES.— EXECUTED  BY  A  SMALL  GROUP 
OF   SKIRMISHERS. 

The  assault  is  prepared  by  a  small  group  of  skirmishers  throwing 
grenades  in  cases  where  a  group  of  skirmishers  has  succeeded  in 
taking  position  in  a  shelter  at  a  short  distance  from  the  enemy. 
The  exercise  is  practiced  on  irregular  ground  in  order  to  avoid  im- 
probable situations  and  to  make  individual  advance  easier.  The 
group  of  skirmishers  is  commanded  either  by  a  noncommissioned  officer 
or  by  a  man  designated  by  the  instructor. 

PREPARATION    FOR   THE   ASSAULT. 


Points  on  which  to  give  instruction. 

The  skirmishers  slip  into  the  shelter 
which  is  nearest  to  the  enemy. 

The  chief  of  the  group  has  his  men  fill 
the  magazines  of  their  rifles  and  fix  their 
bayonets,  which  they  conceal. 

He  arranges  the  signal  for  the  assault. 

The  chief  of  the  group  designates  a  cer- 
tain number  of  skirmishers  (preferably 
automatic  riflemen)  who  conceal  them- 
selves carefully  and  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  fire  upon  any  enemy  who 
may  try  to  stop  the  movement  of  the 
grenadiers. 

Chosen  grenadiers  or  skirmishers  sup- 
plied with  grenades  (have  the  grenade 
belonging  to  the  group  collected)  ap- 
proach the  enemy  position,  using  the  en- 
trenching tool  where  necessary  to  open 
the  way  completely. 

Thegrenades  are  thrown  by  the  grenadiers 
as  soon  as  they  are  within  throwing  distance 
(reserve  the  O.  F.  grenades  for  the  last). 

(The  use  of  V.  B.  (rifle)  grenades  sim- 
plifies the  work  of  the  grenadiers  and 
covers  their  movement.) 


Features  to  represent. 

Ground  will  be  chosen  to  represent  a 
shelter  or  a  dead  angle  at  some  dozens  of 
meters  from  the  enemy  position. 


Have  several  rifles  appear  in  the  enemy 
loopholes,  skirmishers  firing  over  the 
parapet,  grenadiers  whose  arms  are 
visible  for  a  moment. 


A  noncommissioned  officer,  placed  in 
the  position  of  the  enemy  skirmishers, 
watches  the  movement.  He  immedi- 
ately puts  out  of  action  any  assailant  who 
remains  exposed  more  than  3  or  4  seconds. 


CARRYING    OUT  THE   ASSAULT. 


If  there  is  opportunity,  make  several 
false  assaults  (feints)  in  order  to  mitlead 
the  enemy  and  to  oblige  him  to  show  him- 
self to  our  skirmishers  who  are  ready  to 
fire. 

At  the  signal,  the  assault  should  be  made 
in  one  quick  rush,  and  without  making  any 
outcry.  Shoot  every  enemy  who  shows 
himself. 


Have  one  or  two  enemies  make  their 
appearance. 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


29 


EXERCISE  No.  11. 

COMBAT   ON  THE  ENEMY  POSITION. 

(Exercise  for  a  group  of  skirmishers.) 

This  exercise  is  never  practiced  separately;  it  is  added  to  one  or  the 
other  of  the  two  preceding  ex«rcises  in  assault,  but  only  when  they  have 
been  ivell  learned,  so  as  not  to  cause  disorder  by  the  multiplicity  of 
details.  The  exercise  is  carried  on  on  a  prepared  practice  ground, 
representing  either  a  group  of  trenches  (see  figure  below)  or  a  point  of 
support  on  the  field  of  battle  which  has  been  hastily  organized  (hedges, 
borders  of  woods,  village,  etc.). 

The  instructor  determines  the  features  to  be  represented.  He 
has  the  enemy  represented  by  several  groups  of  skirmishers,  com- 
manded by  noncommissioned  officers  to  whom  he  has  given  special 
orders.  Each  noncommissioned  officer  is  charged  with  keeping 
good  order  and  taking  note  of  errors.  The  noncommissioned  officers 
stop  the  exercise  when  the  assailants  have  arrived  within  a  few  paces 
of  their  groups.  (See  the  examples  of  preparation  of  practice 
grounds.) 

CARRYING  AND  CLEANING  UP  OF  THE  FIRST  TRENCH. 

(Cleaning  up  which  must  be  done  by  each  skirmisher  as  he  passes.) 

Points  upon  which  to  give  instruction. 

Leap  right  over  the  enemy  trench.  Do 
not  descend  into  the  trenches  or  commun- 
ication trenches,  except  to  pass  through 
them,  if  they  are  too  large  to  jump  over,  or 
to  clean  them  up  quickly;  always  attack  on 
the  open  ground  so  as  not  to  be  delayed 
and  so  as  to  permit  the  whole  line  to  take 
part  in  the  fight. 

A.  n  armed  adversary  should  never  be  left 
in  one's  rear.  This  is  necessary  to  avoid 
being  shot  in  the  back.  Make  sure  that 
the  Germans  lying  in  the  trench  are  dead. 

Seek  out  the  shelters  at  once,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  getting  out  of  them. 
Throw  grenades  into  the  openings.  The 
openings  are  not  always  easily  distin- 
guished, because  they  are  often  partly 
obstructed  by  the  bombardment. 

Disarm  the  prisoners  and  deliver  them 
quickly  to  the  wave  charged  with  clearing 
up  the  trench,  then  rejoin  your  unit. 

(Clearing  up  the  trench  is  completed  by 
troops  especially  charjed  with  this  duty.) 


Features  to  represent. 
Place  dummies  in  the  trench. 


Carefully  conceal  a  few  men  and  have 
them  fire  upon  the  assailants  from  the 
rear  if  they  are  not  discovered. 

Represent  shelters  under  the  parapet 
and  shelters  opening  into  the  communi- 
cation trenches.  Have  several  men  run 
out  of  these.  If  the  opening  is  not 
quickly  covered,  represent  at  the  exit  of 
the  shelter  a  serious  resistance  such  as 
will  give  the  assailant  trouble. 

Represent  the  wave  whose  duty  it  is  to 
clear  up  the  trench  by  several  men  pro- 
vided with  certain  insignia. 


30 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


FIGHT   TO    FORCE   INTO   THE    OPEN    ENEMY   GROUPS   WHICH    RESIST. 

When  a  man  has  no  enemy  directly 
before  him,  he  should  help  hia  neighbors 
who  are  struggling  with  an  enemy  group  by 
taking  the  enemy  in  the  rear  or  the  flanks. 

When  a  group  resists  obstinately  in  a 
corner  of  the  trench,  the  groups  of  at- 
tackers who  have  entered  the  trench  to  the 
right  or  left  attack  the  resisting  group  by 
advancing  along  the  trench;  to  such  an 
advance  the  defense  can  oppose  only  one 
or  two  rifles. 

Advance  through  the  communication 
trenches  joining  the  trenchei  when  they 
are  near  the  route  which  is  to  be  fol- 
lowed. This  is  to  prevent  the  enemy's 
flanking  the  space  between  the  two 
trenches. 

Reconnoiter  at  once  the  emplacement  of 
a  machine  gun  which  is  going  into  action; 
riddle  it  with  a  hail  of  bullets.  (This  is  the 
role  of  the  automatic  riflemen.) 

Try  to  take  the  machine  gun  in  reverse. 
I  f  possible,  throw  grenades  into  the  midst 
of  the  gun  crew.  Use  the  VB  (rifle)  gre- 
nade to  destroy  the  gun  crew  from  a 
distance. 

Before  a  counter  attack,  seek  ahd'er 
quickly  (this  is  the  r61e  of  the  machine 
gunners,  fusileers,  and  automatic  rifle- 
men, who  watch  especially  the  attempts 
at  counter  attack);  stop  it  by  gun  fire  or 
grenade  throwing.  Then  recommence  the 
attack. 

NOTE.— The  exercise  is  first  practiced  «nce  without  any  incidents  being  represented, 
so  as  to  get  fixed  in  the  men's  minds  the  form  of  the  assault  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  are  to  re-form  after  surmounting  an  obstacle,  before  entering  into  the  details 
of  close  fighting. 

The  points  which  the  instructor  should  bring  out  are  the  following: 

During  the  artillery  preparation  fire  into  the  embrasures,  the 
enemy  loopholes,  and  on  the  emplacements  of  the  skirmishers  that 
can  be  spotted,  in  order  to  give  the  enemy  the  feeling  of  insecurity 
in  the  places  from  which  he  fires. 

Watch  the  wall  or  the  hedge  so  as  to  be  ready  to  fire,  during  the 
charge,  if  an  enemy  rifle  appears. 

Drive  the  enemy  from  the  wall  and  from  the  first  hedge  by  means 
of  offensive  grenades. 

Reform  after  carrying  the  wall  and  the  first  hedge. 


Group  the  enemy  in  certain  places  so  as 
to  represent  knots  of  defenders  separated 
by  unoccupied  spaces,  as  always  happens 
after  a  preparation  by  artillery. 


Represent  a  communication  trench  or- 
ganized as  a  firing  trench,  certain  parts  of 
which  are  occupied  by  the  enemy. 


Represent  a  machine  gun  firing  through 
i  a  loophole  or  going  into  battery  above  the 
parapet. 

Jfachine  gun  flanking  the  interval  be- 
tween two  trenches. 

Machine  gun  placed  in  the  open  field  in 
a  hole. 

Represent  several  attempts  at  counter 
attacks  by  groups  of  skirmishers  rushing 
in  on  the  flank. 

Small  counter  attacks  with  grenades. 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS, 


31 


fxarnp/esoffa  organizgho/j  of  the  ground  for  exercises 
infiyhhna  in  an  enemy  position. 


Example  of  fh&  organization  of  a  group  of  rr&ncftej. 


Barricade  hastily  thrown  up . 


rench 


(load 


f(Ditch  representing 
the.  2?  trench 


nch     +fjj Moc/iine  gun  for  Flanking^ 


•*'•/* 

utoOxtr  focJf  offer  ffie  capture  efthc 


Orei/p  ino  cammunicofion  trench 
organ  iztd  fe  flout  ffit  infer  m/ 


Eaemr  arovef/nc/ixf/ng  <3/iCO.)  */ro  arc  t*  rtmt  rtrm^et 
Htil/eftestrirm  tinware  jetfiry  MtrtM^jfit  cntony/tmtnts 

f^Jjrf    ~*~~*~-+$  £-» — 

' '  ~  i-  -il  Entrances  tostie/rerj  undv+frefvr± 


farf  aimplv  b/odte4  out  to 
represent  a  trtncli  fern  up  • 
ty  ff/e  artillery. 


Half    latoon  to  At  instruct**,  f/ac*<S  ISomtrers  from  tht  first  trenc*, 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


Go  around  a  house  which  can  not  be  attacked  in  front. 

Drive  the  enemy  skirmishers  from  their  cover  in  a  little  wood: 
Individual  fighting  from  tree  to  tree  by  rifle  fire  at  close  range, 
throwing  offensive  grenades,  and  bayonet  attacks  on  the  dummies. 

Attack  on  a  house:  Hidden  skirmishers  firing  on  all  the  openings 
(windows,  doors,  breaches)  while  the  grenadiers  slip  up  toward  the 
house. 

FlGH  TING  /ft  THE  Efi£M  Y  Po5l  T/O/Y 
( £*amp/e  of  Me  preparation  efftie  txtrc/se.) 

fily  organ i 'zed ' ) 


0     O      o 
xxx  x  xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  Hcc/ge. 

X  sif\r* 


tfa/J /n  which  Me  openings     fsnbrasut 

repref«fft/oo/o/ra/es.  by  means  of-sand  toys  p/«it<f     <"3°'"£*<f- 

The  group  is  supposed  fodep/aeeJ/Sdmefersfromf^eenemy  jurifig  fAc- 

O     OOooo.ooo     p.     o     o     o     o 

-ort-illery  preparation.     ,' 
Safer •r»/iS4-fx>cej  6e.ftvc.esr  ffie  skirmishers _ 

EXERCISE  No.  12. 

GRENADE   FIGHTING    BY    A    GROUP    OF   SKIRMISHERS    IN   THE    IN- 
TERIOR   OF   A   FIRE   TRENCH  OR   A   COMMUNICATION  TRENCH. 

This  exercise  is  practiced  by  squads  of  half  platoons.  It  is  neces- 
sary to  have  at  one's  disposal,  in  the  beginning,  an  element  of  a 
trench. 

FIRST  PART. 

The  enemy  is  not  represented.  The  instructor  teaches  the 
skirmishers  the  duties  of  scouts,  grenade  throwers,  and  ammunition 
servers,  and  the  mechanism  of  the  advance.  (Bombardment  of  the 
communication  trench  at  the  longest  range  possible  by  bombers  and 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS.  33 

VB  (rifle)  grenadiers.  Reconnaissance  and  occupation  of  the  cleared 
trench,  first  by  scouts  and  then  by  bombers.)  The  instructor  always 
forbids  yelling  and  speaking  in  a  loud  voice. 

SECOND  PART. 

The  advance  having  been  executed  properly  the  instructor  sets 
two  groups  of  skirmishers,  supplied  with  rag  balls,  against  each 
other.  The  instructor,  in  representing  the  losses,  endeavors  to  bring 
out  the  following  points:  The  advantage  is  with  the  one  whose  aim 
is  the  most  exact  (the  question  of  range  can  not  be  considered  when 
rag  balls  are  usedV  The  advantage  is  also  with  the  one  who  is  the 
best  supplied.  Crowding  together  is  the  principal  cause  of  losses. 

The  points  of  detail  to  be  taught  and  the  features  to  represent  are 
the  following:  Quick  construction  of  barricades  with  sacks  of  earth 
by  the  group  which  is  for  the  moment  the  weaker.  Carrying  these 
barricades  by  the  other  group.  (Teach  the  men  how  to  destroy  barri- 
cades by  means  of  petards  or  sacks  of  grenades.)  The  means  em- 
ployed to  regain  superiority  over  the  enemy.  (Draw  the  enemy  into 
an  ambuscade,  oppose  him  with  a  larger  number  of  bombers.) 

The  instructor  will  also  teach  the  men  how  to  place  well-hidden 
skirmishers  (automatic  riflemen)  along  the  line  of  the  communication 
or  fire  trenches  to  second  the  action  of  the  bombers  in  keeping  a 
watch  for  the  heads  or  arms  which  the  enemy  grenadiers  may  show. 
He  will  put  out  of  the  fight  any  man  who  shows  himself  too  long  or 
who  shows  himself  several  times  at  the  same  place. 

APPLICATIONS. 

The  foregoing  exercises  having  been  practiced  until  they  are 
learned,  the  instructor  will  practice  the  advance  foot  by  foot,  with  rifle 
and  grenade,  over  sortie  kind  of  ground  other  than  a  regular  trench  (torn 
up  ground,  quarries,  sunken  roads,  fences,  enclosures,  walls,  etc.). 

The  instructor  -u.ill  have  the  men  themselves  organize  a  grenade  fight 
in  groups  of  various  strengths.  The  opportunity  to  practice  this 
exercise  will  occur  particularly  in  the  exercise  in  putting  a  captured 
position  in  a  state  of  defense  (counter  attacks  by  the  enemy),  or  in 
the  exercise  in  the  defense  of  a  trench  (counter  attacks  organized  and 
carried  out  by  skirmishers  who  are  near  the  parts  of  the  trench 
invaded  by  the  enemy). 


34  METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 

EXERCISE  No.  13. 

ORGANIZATION   OF  CAPTURED   GROUND. 

(Exercise  for  a  group  of  skirmishers.) 

This  exercise  is  always  preceded  by  a  very  short  exercise  in  a.°sault. 
The  instructor  will  be  able  to  give  instruction  to  several  groups  of 
skirmishers  at  the  same  time  by  placing  them  on  the  ground  at  a  cer- 
tain distance  apart,  and  arranged  as  at  the  end  of  an  attack.  The 
instructor  will  remove  the  officers  and  noncommissioned  officers  in 
the  first  part  of  the  exercise;  he  will  replace  them  in  the  groups  when 
the  time  comes  to  improve  the  organisation. 

POINTS    ON    WHICH   TO   GIVE    INSTRUCTION. 

1.  Men  who  find  themselves  in  existing  shelters  immediately  act 
as  lookouts. 

2.  Each  skirmisher  organizes  at  once  a  firing  position,  and  holds 
himself  in  readiness  to  fire.     He  establishes  strong  traverses  to  guard 
against  enfilade  or  oblique  fire,  which  are  often  encountered  in  a 
newly  captured  position. 

3.  The  men  placed  on  the  wings  of  the  group  arrange  their  position 
in  such  a  way  as  to  throw  off  any  attempt  at  comihrnltdrj;  on  the  flanks 
of  the  group  (this  is  especially  the  role  of  the  automatic  riflemen  and 
machine  gunners). 

4.  When  the  individual  shelters  have  been  dug,  the  chief  of  the 
skirmish  group  separates  his  men  into  two  parties — the  lookouts 
(half  or  a  third  of  the  force),  and  the  working  party. 

The  working  party  keep  their  weapons  within  reach,  complete  the 
organization  of  the  position  (communications  between  the  men  of 
the  group  and  with  the  rear,  with  the  neighboring  groups,  shelters 
against  artillery  fire,  and  auxiliary  defenses). 

POINTS    ON    WHICH    TO    GIVE    INSTRUCTION    APPLYING    ESPECIALLY    TO 
THE    ORGANIZATION    OK    A    CAPTURED   TRENCH. 

1.  Each  soldier  cuts  a  loophole  on  the  parados  of  the  trench 
(oblique  loophole  if  the  enemy  is  near  by). 

2.  The  skirmishers  who  are  at  the  end  of  the  captured  portion 
of  trench  immediately  construct  a  barricade.     They  hold  themselves 
ready  to  repulse  any  counterattack  with  grenades.     (Have  the 
grenadiers  of  the  group  place  themselves1  near  the  barricades  at  the 
ends.    Collect  grenades.) 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS.  35 

3.  The  group  is  divided,  in  the  same  manner  as  before,  into  look- 
outs and  working  party. 

4.  The  instructor  will  teach  the  men  how  to  construct  communica- 
tions under  fire,  by  means  of  working  parties  stationed  from  place  to 
place  in  shelters  (shell  craters,  etc.),  who  endeavor  to  establish  con- 
nection with  each  other  by  extending  their  work  foot  by  foot.     If 
there  are  no  shelters,  the  working  party  fill  two  or  three  sacks  with 
earth,  as  a  starter,  to  serve  them  as  first  protection  in  the  place  where 
they  are  to  work. 

FEATURES  TO  REPRESENT. 

Enemy  counter  attacks  (counter  attack  over  the  open  ground  or 
with  grenades  through  the  communication  trenches).  Enfilading 
or  oblique  fire. 

VII.  FIFTH  SERIES  OF  EXERCISES— EXERCISES  FOR  PATROLS. 
EXERCISES  FOR  COMBAT  PATROLS. 

These  exercises  are  an  excellent  means  of  applying  certain  exer- 
cises enumerated  in  the  preceding  pages.  They  contribute  to  the 
development  of  flexibility  in  the  working  parties  and  of  aptitude  in 
the  noncommissioned  officers  and  corporals  in  leading  small  elements 
in  combat. 

The  instructor  endeavors  above  all  to  have  the  following  move- 
ments executed:  Discovering  whether  a  point  is  occupied;  seizing 
an  important  point  not  occupied  by  the  enemy  and  quickly  inform- 
ing the  main  body;  discovering  what  parts  of  the  enemy  line  are  not 
occupied,  and  quickly  directing  most  of  the  group  toward  those 
points,  in  order  to  flank  the  enemy  or  to  take  him  under  enfilade  or 
"oblique  fire  by  surprise. 

For  this  purpose  the  instructor  chooses  ground  of  varied  character. 
He  sets  up  at  a  certain  distance  from  the  point  of  departure  (I  or  2 
kilometers)  a  noncontinuous  enemy  line.  This  enemy  line  sends 
ahead  some  elements  and  patrols  according  to  the  orders  of  the 
instructor. 

Then  the  instructor  advances  in  the  direction  of  the  represented 
enemy  with  the  main  body  (platoon,  in  small  columns,  or  as  skir- 
mishers). He  sends  forward  several  patrols  to  reconnoiter  the 
various  obstacles  which  are  present,  and  thus  goes  from  obstacle  to 
obstacle,  according  as  they  have  been  reconnoitered .  He  relieves 
the  patrols  frequently,  in  order  to  give  all  the  noncommissioned 
officers  practice. 


36 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


When  the  patrol  is  not  in  immediate  contact  with  the  enemy,  the  patrol 
marches  in  the  following  order:  At  the  head,  one  or  several  scouts 
keeping  a  lookout  ahead;  on  the  flanks,  one  or  several  scouts, 
keeping  a  lookout  to  right  and  left  (flankers);  at  the  rear,  one  or 
several  men  maintain  communication  with  the  main  body.  The 
rest  of  the  scouts  are  at  the  disposition  of  the  patrol  leader. 

The  patrol  leader  has  no  fixed  post.  When  there  is  occasion,  he 
goes  to  the  scouts  ahead  or  to  those  on  the  flanks. 

The  patrol  takes  possession  of  the  obstacles  which  limit  its  view 
one  after  the  other.  The  patrol  stops  at  each  one  and  observes  the  new 
part  of  the  ground  which  may  be  seen  from  it,  then  goes  forward  to  the 
next  obstacle,  choosing  a  route  u-hich  is  protected. 

\Vhen  the  patrol  is  in  contact  with  the  enemy,  one  must  see  without 
being  seen.  Silence  and  complete  utilization  of  the  ground  are 
essential. 


Features  to  represent. 

The  instructor  will  direct  certain  elements 
n  pnmnling  the  enemy  to  allow  the  patrols 
to  approach  and  to  give  a  representation 
of  fire  at  close  range.  (Patrol  reconnoi- 
tcring  a  position  after  preparation  by  the 
artillery.) 


Points  on  which  to  give  instruction. 

The  patrol  no  longer  advances  all 
together.  A  part  of  the  scouts  slips  up 
toward  the  obstacle  to  investigate  the 
other  part,  hides  and  keeps  a  lookout  for 
the  least  movement  which  may  occur.  The 
flankers  attempt  to  outflank  the  obstacle. 

Some  time,  in  order  not  to  draw  the 
attention  of  the  enemy,  or  in  order  to 
push  home  a  reconnaissance  on  one  of 
the  flanks,  the  patrol  leader  leaves  most 
of  his  men  behind  and  advances  with 
onlv  one  or  two  scouts. 


WHEN    THE    PATROL    COMES    UPON    THE     ENEMY,     BUT    IS    NOT    SKKN. 


Enemy  patrol.— We  must  conceal  our- 
selves and  take  the  necessary  measures 
for  capturing  the  enemy  patrol  by  sur- 
rounding it,  or  for  destroying  it  by  firing 
upon  it  point  blank. 

Enemy  line.— We  must  conceal  our- 
selves and  notify  the  main  body. 

Following  the  orders  received,  ftoZdthe 
position  until  the  arrival  of  the  main 
body,  or  reconnoiter  the  enemy  line  by 
going  sideways  so  as  to  determine  what 
points  are  occupied. 

At  the  outset  the  instructor  forms  a 
certain  number  of  enemy  patrols,  and 


appoints  them  a  certain  route.  He  de- 
cides upon  a  signal  to  indicate  the  mo- 
ment of  the  start.  In  the  present  case, 
the  signal  is  given  in  such  a  way  that 
the  enemy  patrol  will  be  seen  first. 
(Enemy  patrol  sent  into  a  wood,  the 
edge  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  other 
patrol,  for  example.) 

Certain  parts  of  the  enemy  line  are 
so  placed  as  to  permit  patrols  to  approach 
them  closely  without  being  seen. 


METHOD   OF  INSTRUCTING  SKIRMISHERS. 


37 


WHEN    THE    PATROL    RUSHES    VPOX    THE     ENEMY    AND    IS    RECEIVED 
WITH   RIFLE    FIRE. 


Conceal  one's  self  immediately.  At- 
tempt to  disengage  one's  self  without 
being  seen. 

If  the  patrol  is  in  the  open  field  and 
cannot  conceal  itself,  it  opens  a  violent 
•fire  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy  in 
order  to  prevent  his  taking  good  aim. 
(Individuals  who  are  isolated  have  little 
to  fear  from  badly  directed  fire.)  Then 
the  patrol  falls  back,  firing. 


Incidents  resulting  from  the  prelimi- 
nary placing  of  the  enemy  elements  and 
the  signals  agreed  upon. 


o 


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